Sports racquet having a bending zone

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sports racquet having a head having a string bed is attached to two throat beams that extend continuously downward to a shaft having a handle. Each throat beam contains a bending zone in which the width of the throat beam parallel to the string bed and the width of the same throat beam perpendicular to the string bed gradually changes in equal, but opposite, dimensions such that the circumference of the throat beam remains substantially constant through at least the length of the bending zone or the length of the entire throat beam. Where the width of the throat beam parallel to the string bed is the widest and the width of the throat beam perpendicular to the string beg is the narrowest defines the flexible cross-section or flex point of the bending zone.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefits of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/077,676, filed Nov. 10, 2014, entitled “SPORTS RACQUET HAVING BENDING ZONES,” and to U.S. patent application Serial No. 29/492,099, filed May 28, 2014, entitled “SPORTS RACQUET,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a sports racquet, and more particularly to an improved sports racquet with increased flexibility.

BACKGROUND

Racquets used in a variety of sports typically include a head, a throat portion and a handle, in which the throat portion connects the head to the handle. The head supports a string bed made from a plurality of interwoven main and cross strings for hitting an object, such as a ball in the case of tennis, racquetball, and squash or a birdie in the case of badminton. In the case of tennis, the racquet can flex in an unpredictable reaction during ball impact depending on where the ball hits the string bed. The head will tend to distort if the ball is not stuck exactly in the central area, known as the “sweet spot,” the area which provides the best control and feel to a player.

The method of attaching the head to the throat determines any further flexion (i.e., the ability to flex) created by the ball impact. Most racquets have a comparatively stiff flexion of the throat during play, which leads to head distortion when the ball is struck even slightly off the sweet spot of the string bed. If the head distorts due to the rigid interaction between the head and the throat area, ball control will be adversely affected. This head distortion allows the ball to leave the string bed at a tangential attitude (i.e., an unpredictable angle), thus leading to decreased control by the player. In addition, the shock vibrations created by the head distortion can be unpleasant and may lead to injury to a player's hand, arm or shoulder.

Current racquets have a varied flexion that does not create a smooth transition from the head through the throat area. There have been attempts to improve this flexion transition with the use of a pressed aluminum shaft. However, it is difficult to press the aluminum into a mold in an exact matter to create identical racquets. Because racquets manufactured in this way are not identical, it is difficult to find two racquets that play the same. Players depend on consistency of play with the same racquet type. Otherwise, players would need to change their play depending on the unique characteristics of each racquet.

Racquets have also been developed with various structural features to improve performance, such as enlarging the sweet spot, reducing shock vibrations or increasing spin in order to provide more control and/or power. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,438 to Yoneeyama ('438 patent) describes varying the thickness in the shaft and head portions to coordinate the maximum amplitude of vibration between the shaft portion and the sides of the head toward the center of the string bed so that the repulsive force of the entire racquet can be transmitted to a ball, resulting in an increase of the ball return speed. Without coordinating the vibrations from the shaft portions and the sides of the head, the vibrations interfere with each other to weaken the repulsive force of the racquet, resulting in a slower pace. As shown in FIG. 1 of the '438 patent, only the inner edge of the shaft portion parallel to the string bed is widened when the thickness of the shaft portion perpendicular to the string bed is narrowed. In contrast, the outer edge of the shaft portion parallel to the string bed remains substantially unaffected. With the change in the circumference of this area, the hollow tube can wrinkle during molding since the material has nowhere else to go, which can create a weak shaft area that increases the risk of longitudinal cracking.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,679 to Lo ('679 patent) describes a portion of a racquet shaft having a smaller cross section than that of the other portions of the shaft, with two stepped width-increasing portions extending from both sides of the smallest cross section only in the direction perpendicular to the string bed. Also described is a grip portion covering only a part of the smallest cross section so that the uncovered part of the shaft can provide flexibility and shock absorbancy. The width of the shaft portion parallel to the string bed remains constant and is unaffected by the variability in the width of the shaft perpendicular to the string bed. No attempt is made to create a controlled flexion based on the structural features of the shaft portion.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0331209 by Jennings describes the use of rubber insert devices in the throat side posts and/or handle to create one or more pivot or flex points to impart flexibility to a tennis racquet. The inserts are designed to complement the general size and cross-sectional shape of the handle and/or throat side posts.

Another desired feature of a racquet is the ability to increase the dwell time of a ball on the string bed (i.e., the length of time the ball is in contact with the string bed). Various structural features are known for increasing dwell time, including increased racquet head size, adjusting string tension, using different materials for the racquet or strings, and the like. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0031150 by Severa et al. describes a racquet configured with fewer cross strings than main strings to enlarge the sweet spot with the purpose of increasing dwell time to impart more spin on the ball during play.

A need exists for an improved sports racquet capable of providing controlled flex to increase ball control during play by inhibiting frame distortion, to increase dwell time, and to minimize shock to a player's hand during ball impact. The present invention satisfies this need and provides additional advantages as well.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a sports racquet, such as a racquet used for tennis, squash, racquetball, badminton and the like, having a throat region with two throat beams that connect the racquet head to a shaft that includes a handle. Each of the throat beams contains a bending zone created by changing the widths of the throat beam in two dimensions in an equal, but opposite manner so the circumference of the throat beam remains substantially constant throughout at least the length of the bending zone along the throat beam.

In one embodiment, the bending zone is created by the gradual increase, then decrease in the width of the throat beam parallel to the string bed (referred to herein as the “first width”), while simultaneously in an equal, but opposite manner, the width of the same throat beam perpendicular to the string bed (referred to herein as the “second width”) gradually decreases, then increases so the circumference of the throat beam remains substantially constant.

The equal, but opposite change in the first and second widths of the throat beam creates a flexible cross-section or flex point where the first width is at its widest and the second width is concurrently at its narrowest. Preferably, the bending zone and the flex point are substantially in the same location along both throat beams to provide the most consistent flexibility and control.

In a preferred embodiment, the first width of the throat beam parallel to the string bed gradually increases in width to the flex point, then gradually decreases to its original width (also referred to herein as the “first original width”). Concurrently, the second width of the throat beam perpendicular to the string bed gradually decreases in width to the flex point, then gradually increases to its original width (also referred to herein as the “second original width”). In this embodiment, the first width preferably has an increased width in a range of about 120% to about 150% of the first original width at the flex point, and more preferably an increased width of about 137% of the first original width, while the second width preferably has a decreased width in the range of about 50% to about 80% of the second original width at the flex point, and more preferably a decreased width of about 73% of the second original width. In a further preferred embodiment, the first original width is substantially the same as the second width at the flex point, while the second original width is substantially the same as the first width at the flex point.

The various changes in the first and second widths can be measured, for example, in millimeters or inches. In one embodiment, the first original width is in a range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm, while the second original width can be in a range of about 20 mm to about 25 mm. In this embodiment, the first width can increase to a maximum width within a range of about 20 mm to about 25 mm, while the second width can proportionately decrease to a minimum width within a range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm. Preferably, the first original width is about 16 mm, while the second original width is about 22 mm.

As noted above, the present invention provides for a bending zone in which the circumference of each throat beam remains substantially constant at least throughout the length of the bending zone and, preferably, throughout the length of the entire throat beam. In one embodiment, the throat beam has a circumference in the range of about 50 mm to about 70 mm, with a preferred circumference in the range of about 60 mm to about 70 mm, and more preferably, a circumference of about 64 mm.

The use of specified ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as an abbreviated method of referring to each value individually within the range. Therefore, each value within a recited range is incorporated herein as if it were individually specified.

The terms “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” and the like are intended for their ordinary meaning as interpreted by one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the terms mean not only the specific concept or value, but also those concepts or values close to the specified concept or value. In the case of values (i.e., numbers), the terms mean not only the specific value, but also all values up to or down to the next similar digit. For example, “about 60 mm” includes all intermediate values from 59 mm to 61 mm. By way of another example, “substantially constant” means exactly constant or nearly constant as would be accepted by one skilled in the art.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, “has,” and “having” can be used interchangeably herein and are intended to be open-ended (i.e., including, but not limited to).

The terms “determine”, “measure,” and variations thereof, as used herein, can be used interchangeably herein to include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique known to those skilled in the art.

The preceding summary is only intended to provide an understanding of some aspects of the invention and is not intended as an extensive or comprehensive overview of the invention nor its various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations. As will be appreciated to those skilled in the art, other aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in more detail below and in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front side perspective view of the sports racquet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front side perspective view of the sports racquet of the sports racquet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the sports racquet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the sports racquet of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described below with reference to the drawings in which the reference numbers identified in the drawings are used to refer to the various elements described in this detailed description. Although the invention can be used with any sports racquet having a head, throat region and handle for hitting an object, the invention is described below for tennis racquets by way of explanation and is not intended to be limited to tennis racquets.

Referring to FIG. 1, a racquet 10 is composed of a head 12 converging into a throat region 14 having two throat beams 16, which in turn converge continuously downward into a shaft 18 that includes a handle 20. The head 12 and throat bridge 24 define a string bed 22 that can be strung with a plurality of interwoven main and cross strings for hitting a ball.

As shown in FIG. 1, the throat region 14 comprises two throat beams 16 and a throat bridge 24 to form an elongated triangular area 34. The two throat beams 16 converge from opposing sides (i.e., the left and right sides) of the head 12 and begin at the point where the head 12 connects to the throat bridge 24 and extends continuously downward until they converge into the shaft 18 at the lower portion of the triangular area 34.

As shown in FIG. 2, each throat beam includes a bending zone 26 for imparting flexion to the racquet 10 when a ball is struck. The bending zone 26 is created by the gradual increase, then reduction in the width parallel to the string bed 22 (“the first width”), with the concurrent equal, but opposite gradual decrease, then increase in the width perpendicular to the string bed 22 (“the second width”). In addition, the throat beam retains a substantially constant circumference due to the concurrent equal and opposite gradual variation in width in those two dimensions, at least within the bending zone 26. However, it is contemplated that the circumference of a throat beam can be substantially constant throughout its entire length, including the bending zone 26. Accordingly, for every measureable increase in the first width, there is an equal and measureable decrease in the second width and vice versa throughout the bending zone 26 to maintain the substantially constant circumference of a throat beam.

The bending zone 26 can span the entire throat beam or any portion therein. The choice of location can be readily determined by those skilled in the art depending on various factors such as the type of sport racquet, size of the racquet, type of player (competitive vs. recreational), and other factors described in this detailed description. For example, the bending zone can be located in the upper two-thirds of a throat beam 26, centrally of a throat beam 26 or in the lower two-thirds of a throat beam 26. Preferably, the bending zone 26 is located approximately centrally within each throat beam 16, and most preferably just off-center of each throat beam 16 as shown in FIG. 2.

The point within the bending zone where each throat beam is concurrently at its widest (FIG. 3) and its narrowest (FIG. 4) is referred to herein as the flex point 28. As used herein, the term “flex point” is used interchangeably with the term “flexible cross-section.” The flexible cross-section or flex point 28 can be located at any desired location within a bending zone 26. Those skilled in the art can readily determine the desired location of the flex point 28 depending on similar factors used to determine the location of the bending zone 26 as noted above and other factors as described in this detailed description. In one embodiment, the flex point 26 is located centrally within the bending zone 26.

The desired circumference of each throat beam 16 can be readily determined by those skilled in the art depending on several factors, including, but not limited to, the overall size of the racquet, and the height, weight and length of the handle 20, as well as the amount of desired flexion. Other factors in determining the desired circumference of each throat beam 16 can also include, for example, the intended use of the sports racquet, the cost the racquet and proficiency of the players (i.e., beginner, intermediate or advanced) for the target market of a particular racquet. For a tennis racquet, the circumference of each throat beam 16 can range from about 50 mm to about 75 mm, preferably from about 60 mm to about 70 mm, and is most preferably about 64 mm.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective (i.e., the perspective parallel to the string bed 22) of the bending zone 26. The beginning of the bending zone 26 is defined when the first width gradually increases until a maximum or largest width is attained at the flex point 28. Thereafter, the first width gradually decreases until the original first width is attained, which at that location defines the lower end of the bending zone 26.

FIG. 4 shows a side perspective (i.e., the perspective perpendicular to the string bed 22 not shown) of the bending zone 26. The uppermost portion of the bending zone 26 is defined when the second width begins to gradually decrease to a minimum or narrowest width at the flex point 28. Thereafter, the second width gradually increases until the original second width is attained, which at that location defines the lower end of the bending zone 26.

In one embodiment for a tennis racquet, the first original width of a throat beam 16 can range from about 12 mm to about 18 mm, with the first width being in a range from about 20 mm to about 25 mm at the flex point 28. Similarly, the second original width of a throat beam 16 can range from about 20 mm to about 25 mm, with the second width being in a range from about 12 mm to about 18 mm at the flex point 28. In a preferred embodiment, the first original width is substantially the same as the second width at the flex point 28, while the second original width is substantially the same as the first width at the flex point 28. As an example of this embodiment, the first original width is about 16 mm, the second original width is about 22 mm, the first width is about 22 mm at the flex point 28, and the second width is about 16 mm at the flex point 28.

Alternatively, the first width can increase in width in a range of about 120% to about 150% of the first original width at the flex point 28, while the second width can decrease in the range of about 50% to about 80% of the second original width at the flex point 28. In one embodiment, the first width can increase to a maximum of about 137% of the first original width, while the second width can decrease to a minimum of about 73% of the second original width.

There are several advantages to a sports racquet having a bending zone 26, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) the substantially constant circumference of each throat beam 16 throughout its length eliminates any material (e.g., carbon fiber) wrinkling during the molding process of the hollow throat beam 16, thereby reliably producing substantially identical racquets and decreasing the risk of creating a weakened area that could initiate longitudinal cracking, unlike certain prior art racquets;

(b) the bending of a racquet 10 seeks the direction of least resistance; therefore, due to the narrowing of the throat beam 26 perpendicular to the string bed 22 as shown in FIG. 4, the racquet is capable of bending from the top of the head 10 down to the flexible cross-section 28 when a ball is struck, which greatly reduces any uneven frame distortion, especially in the head 12 for more controlled play;

(c) the increase in the first width of the throat beam 16 parallel to the string bed 22 as shown in FIG. 3 provides increased torsional strength of the racquet 10, with increased resistance to yaw or bending brought on by off-center hits on the string bed 22, thereby minimizing head 12 distortion and creating a larger “sweet spot;”

d. as a result of (b) and (c) above, the racquet 10 is more reliable and predictable, thus allowing a player to swing harder to produce increased ball velocity for greater success during play (i.e., the racquet head 12 accelerates through the contact point of the ball, for example during a serve or groundstroke, since it moves through air with less friction increasing velocity and spin);

e. the bending zone 26 creates increased dwell time during ball impact, thus allowing more spin production as well as increased “feel” by the player for greater topspin, slice, approach and passing shots; and

f. the increased dwell time created by the bending zone 26 also spreads out the shock of the ball impact, resulting in a significant reduction of the shock received by the player's hand during ball impact.

The sports racquet 10 can have any desired head shape, for example, round, oval, tear drop or the like. The racquet can also be any height, weight, desired number of points head light and have a desired square-inch head size depending on the sport and desired features, such as control, power, spin and the like. Those skilled in the art can readily determine the appropriate height, weight, head light and square-inches typically found in racquets within a particular sport. Other features can be added to the sports racquet to provide additional desired benefits known to those skilled in the art, such as to increase power, dampen shock, or to increase control.

Competitive tennis players tend to prefer tennis racquets having a 100 square-inch head size. Accordingly, one embodiment is a tennis racquet having a round 100 square-inch head, with a height ranging from any value within, for example, 25-30 inches, preferably 27 inches, and with a weight ranging from 10.0-12.0 ounces strung, preferably 11.2 ounces strung. The tennis racquet is between 5-10 points head light, and preferably about 7 points head light. As shown in FIG. 1, the head 12 of the racquet 10 can be stiffened at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions to create more power. Suitable methods for stiffening the head portion of racquets are known to those skilled in the art, including, for example, increasing the cross-section of the head 12 or adjusting the material composition at the desired location(s). Adjusting the material composition at a desired location can include, for example, using denser material or adding inserts. Therefore, the combination of a stiffened head 12 with the bending zone 26 can promote increased power with greater spin and enhanced control.

The racquet 10 can be made composed of any material or composite materials suitable to accommodate the bending zone 26 and promote its advantages as described above. For tennis racquets, suitable materials include aluminum, graphite, titanium, nanomaterials, resins, carbon-fiber-reinforced composite and other materials known to those skilled in the art, such as those described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0031150 entitled “Racquet Configured With Fewer Cross Strings Than Main Strings,” incorporated herein by reference.

The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. The foregoing is not intended to limit the full scope of the invention to the embodiments disclosed herein. The features of the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the invention described herein can be combined in alternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than those described above. Moreover, variations, combinations, and modifications to the aspect, embodiments and/or configurations whether described above or not are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention and all rights thereto are not intended to be publicly dedicated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports racquet comprising: a head defining a string bed; a throat region comprising two throat beams, wherein each throat beam comprises a bending zone in which a first width of each throat beam and a second width of each throat beam change in substantially equal and opposite dimensions so the circumference of each throat beam remains substantially constant, wherein the first width is parallel to the string bed and the second width is perpendicular to the string bed; and a shaft comprising a handle.
 2. The sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the bending zone further comprises a flex point.
 3. The sports racquet of claim 2, wherein the first width having an original first width gradually increases in width to the flex point and thereafter gradually decreases to the original first width, and the second width of each throat beam having an original second width gradually decreases in width to the flex point and thereafter gradually increases to the original second width.
 4. The sports racquet of claim 3, wherein the first original width is substantially the same as the second width at the flex point, and wherein the second original width is substantially the same as the first width at the flex point.
 5. The sports racquet of claim 4, wherein the first original width is in a range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm, and wherein the second original width is in a range of about 20 mm to about 25 mm.
 6. The sports racquet of claim 4, wherein the first original width is about 16 mm, wherein the second original width is about 22 mm, wherein the first width is about 22 mm at the flex point, and wherein the second width is about 16 mm at the flex point.
 7. The sports racquet of claim 3, wherein the first width has an increased width in a range of about 120% to about 150% of the first original width at the flex point, and wherein the second width has a decreased width from about 50% to about 80% of the second original width at the flex point.
 8. The sports racquet of claim 7, wherein the first width has a width of about 137% of the first original width at the flex point, and wherein the second width has a width of about 73% of the second original width at the flex point.
 9. The sports racquet of claim 5, wherein the circumference of each throat beam is in a range of about 50 mm to about 75 mm.
 10. The sports racquet of claim 5, wherein the circumference of each throat beam is about 60 mm to about 70 mm.
 11. The sports racquet of claim 6, wherein the circumference of each throat beam is about 64 mm.
 12. The sports racquet of claim 3, wherein the head is stiffened.
 13. A sports racquet comprising: a head defining a string bed; a throat region comprising two throat beams, wherein each throat beam comprises a bending zone in which a first width of each throat beam gradually increases from about 16 mm to about 22 mm at a flex point, then gradually decreases to about 16 mm, while concurrently a second width of each throat beam gradually decreases from about 22 mm to about 16 mm at the flex point, then gradually increases to about 22 mm so the circumference of each throat beam remains about 64 mm, and wherein the first width is parallel to the string bed and the second width is perpendicular to the string bed; and a shaft comprising a handle. 